THE DISMISSED NURSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 288, 21 November 1928, Page 3

THE DISMISSED NURSE

DEFENCE TO BE HEARD BY BOARD.

Auckland, Nov. 20.

The case of Nurse E. A. Blackie, who was dismissed from the hospital staff by a special committee appointed by the Auckland Hospital Board for sending a letter to a prisoner at the Mt. Eden gaol who had been a patient, and in which was an indiscreet reference to the lady supcrin tendent, was again considered by the board to-day. After a somewhat heated discussion lasting an hour, it was decided the nurse should appear before the board nt a special meeting next Monday so (hat the board might hear what she had to say in defence.

In a letter to the board the nurse said: “I admit my letter was most indiscreet, but I think that to have my character and my career destroyed and to bo dismissed at a .moment’? notice is too severe a punishment for what I have done.” Mr M. Laing, a member of the board, said he did not think it was the board’s business to whom the girl wrote as dong as she did her work. In his opinion she should only have been punished for being out late. The chairman (Mr W. Wallace) said all the nurses were in the habit of coming in late. Discipline must bo maintained. Miss Blackie said in her letter tho matron wa% “going soft.”

A member: Perhaps she meant soft-hearted. (Laughter.) The chairman added that nurses were actually getting in through the maids’ quarters and climbing over their beds. If they allowed this it would be the end of discipline.

Regarding a statement of Miss Blackie that she had been dismissed without her wages, those had not been collected by her and were waiting for her.

The resolution to hear the nurse was then carried.